The whole process took around 30~40 min, and in the end the plumber said the price is 776Fr, which surprised me. I'd done this before and the price is usually between 150~250Fr, and sometimes it took longer (e.g. 90~120min) than this time.
What's the regular price of unclogging a kitchen sink in Switzerland?
-was it an emergency? (you really couldn't wait)
-does the fee include a callout rate?
-are they charging additional fees for the journey, use of the van, and spare parts used during the work
-is there a supplemental charge if it was also during evenings/weekends on top of the above (in other words if it's not an emergency, don't get charged for emergency rates)
-are they charging a particularly high hourly rate?
All should be detailed on the invoice.
In conclusion if you asked for an emergency unclogging of a kitchen sink rate comparison, then that's not really comparable to a "regular" unclogging where waiting was an option.
(As posted, you chose not to wait for your regular plumber to become available).
Was a 'same day call out' fee charged? This is becoming more common around here.
The same day fee is usually beween CHF 100-200, though, which still makes your charges high.
Also, if the guy wasn't local, or ended up traveling to you from a job farther away, there could be high mileage charges.
So do ask for a detailed bill.
Probably not much you can do about it after the fact, though, other than to make sure you do not use this guy again.
A plunger, plumber's snake, and if the first two fail then Rorax can work wonders. On both clogged pipes and bank accounts.
You can, and probably should, dispute the high charge as not being in any way commensurate with the work done or time spent. I usually have to do this every couple of years when the chimney sweep comes. I also now video all work done and refuse to sign any documents.
Also consider leaving negative feedback on google reviews or similar.
We don’t use the chimney but they still need to check it, ECA (insurance) requires it.
One hour work (assuming rounding up)
Maybe call out charge
Maybe travel charge
Maybe double it all for Sunday
Before calling plumber I tried everything I could: soda powder + vinegar, druckpumpe, I also tried my "Spirale" but mine is only 3 meter long and it didn't work. I also tried (almost a bottle of) Rorax yesterday and waited it overnight before the efforts above.
The breakdown is attached and listed below
Einsatzpauschale inkl 1 Stunde jede weitere Stunde 145Fr
An- und Abfahrt 40Fr
Fahrzeugkostenpauschale 20Fr
Betriebskostenpauschale 40Fr
Fräsmaschineneinsatz 50Fr
Spirale je Meter 27Fr x 8 = 216Fr
Abfluss - Rohrfrei (1L Flasche) 100Fr
Hochdruckpumpe 75Fr
Totally 777.1Fr
It was done at 1pm this afternoon, in the invoice it mentioned there will be 50% surcharge between 6am-8am, 4pm-10pm, and 100% between (10pm -6am). My 777Fr at 1pm invoice doesn't contain those surcharge.
And 100 CHF for a bottle of drain cleaner is outrageous, in a DIY store it's 10 CHF.
Even the 220 CHF + VAT for the first hour is high when they also charge travel, I've only even paid a higher first hour OR travel.
Who the hell does the plumber think he is?
Yes, but the one in the DIY store is not the special Schweizer qualität one which is well worth 100 CHF a litre.
https://www.goldplating.com/products...ating-solution
(although a litre costs even more than this plumber )
This is the one that I called
Sanitär Lachen ( https://sanitar24h.ch ), 5 Stars on Google Maps, plus that I live in the same town
The plumber said he's from this company (in Zurich 8848)
Lachmech AG ( https://lacomech.ch/ )
Not sure how they are connected.
Nope, it is a special high power machine they use to blast push the blocked debris. And they definitely do not give it to you- expensive equipement they somehow want to make pay for itself. As for the chemical- obviously the normal stuff at 10 chuffs didn't work- so they used something a bit more potent. Not excusing the cost - but ... this is Switzerland. But this is when having a good working relationship with the local plumber truly pays dividends. Even if very busy, they will somehow find the time and charge minimum amount for personal service.
As a bit context .. I was changing a shower mixer tap and I broke the pipe joint.. It was a Sunday afternoon, the water was turned off at the mains and I couldn't turn it on again or the water would flood out of the broken joint. I called a plumber who came from Geneva to Vaud in just over an hour. He temporary made good the broken part to let us use the water again .. He came back next morning and fixed it properly ..
Total bill was 320.-